SF 49ers: Full Position Breakdown and Depth-Chart Analysis at Wide Receiver

The San Francisco 49ers had six wide receivers play at least some role in the offense this past season. Anquan Boldin led the way with 83 catches, followed by Michael Crabtree's 68 and Stevie Johnson's 35. Reserves Brandon Lloyd, Bruce Ellington and Quinton Patton combined for 23 receptions.

Heading into the 2015 season, three of these players, Crabtree, Johnson and Lloyd have moved on. 

The 49ers have lacked top-quality depth and an explosive presence at the wide receiver position for several years.

In reality, the 2014 draft was when the wide receiver spot should have been addressed. It was the best crop of wide receivers coming out of college in the NFL's history. There were five receivers selected in the first round and 15 overall in the first three rounds.

Unfortunately, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke elected to pass on drafting a receiver early in the draft, instead waiting until the 106th overall pick to select Bruce Ellington. 

After the 2014 season, the 49ers signed Torrey Smith and Jerome Simpson as free agents, but it remains a major question as to whether they can produce more than the departed Crabtree, Johnson and Lloyd.

Heading into the 2015 draft, wide receiver was a position of need, and once again, Baalke neglected to draft anyone likely to make an impact at the position in the upcoming season.

The 49ers selected DeAndre Smelter in the fourth round, with the 132nd overall pick. See his draft profile on NFL.com.

With Smelter coming off an ACL tear late in the 2014 season, he is unlikely to play in 2015, as this looks like another one of Baalke's picks, where he takes an injured player with the idea of essentially giving him a redshirt year to recover.

The bottom line is that Baalke has not dramatically upgraded the wide receiver position, so the improvement in this key area must come from within.

Let's take a closer look at the current wide receivers on the San Francisco roster.

Anquan Boldin

David Seelig/Associated Press

Anquan Boldin had 1,062 receiving yards in 2014.

Anquan Boldin will be 35 years old in October, yet he remains the 49ers' top wide receiver. In 2014, Boldin caught 83 passes for 1,062 yards and five touchdowns.

Boldin is a tough, physical receiver and San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick's favorite target.

Entering his 13th NFL season, Boldin has been quite durable for the 49ers, not missing a game. He is a critical component of the 49ers offense, and his continued good health will be essential to their success.

The one drawback with Boldin is that he does not have tremendous speed and is not a true breakaway threat. He was similar to Michael Crabtree in that regard.

However, with Torrey Smith now in the fold, the hope is that there will be more space for Boldin and the other San Francisco receivers to get open on the short and intermediate routes.

Look for Boldin to continue to be the 49ers' top receiver once again this year. The production he gives the 49ers at his age is remarkable.

Torrey Smith

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Torrey Smith comes to the 49ers after four years with the Baltimore Ravens.

The 49ers signed Torrey Smith as a free agent, and he is slated to start opposite Boldin.

Smith gives the 49ers a legitimate deep threat, something they have lacked in recent history. His presence should help to open up the 49ers' underneath routes, making Vernon Davis, Anquan Boldin and the running backs more productive.

In 2014, while with the Baltimore Ravens, Smith caught 49 passes for 767 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had a very good average of 15.7 yards per catch.

If Kaepernick can get the ball deep to Smith, it will be a huge bonus for the 49ers offense. Smith is the home run threat the 49ers have been lacking.

Quinton Patton

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Quinton Patton will compete for the third wide receiver spot.

After Boldin and Torrey Smith, the remainder of the 49ers wide receiver corps is totally unproven. There are major question marks, and the 49ers will need to see major improvements in the supporting cast. 

There is no clear-cut choice for the third or fourth wide receiver positions. None of the candidates have distinguished themselves or are even remotely proven at the NFL level.

After an illustrious career at Louisiana Tech, Quinton Patton was selected in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft. He was the 128th overall pick.

Patton has looked good on occasion and has shown potential, but in two seasons, he has only six catches for 78 yards.

Patton has a golden opportunity to play a major role in the 49ers offense. However, he will need to prove that he can stay healthy and produce. 

Bruce Ellington

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Bruce Ellington made more of an impact as the 49ers' punt returner.

Like Patton, Bruce Ellington has a golden opportunity to become a key player in the 49ers offense. He will compete for the third wide receiver job, along with Patton and Jerome Simpson.

Ellington was drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 draft, the 106th overall selection.

In 2014, Ellington had just six catches for 62 yards. His primary contribution was on special teams, as he had 23 punt returns for 188 yards, an 8.2 yards-per-return average.

The 49ers' depth at wide receiver is very thin; they can ill afford injuries. At only 5'9" and 197 pounds, Ellington must prove that he can stay healthy and contribute on a consistent basis.

Watching him on the field last year, Ellington eerily resembled Kyle Williams, even wearing the same number—No. 10.

Williams, who will be mostly remembered for his two mishandled punts in the NFC title game against the New York Giants, showed flashes of brilliance, but injuries and inconsistency were his ultimate demise. Hopefully, Ellington can rise dramatically above the mediocrity that plagued Williams. 

Jerome Simpson

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Jerome Simpson missed the entire 2014 season.

In a somewhat curious move, general manager Trent Baalke signed troubled wide receiver Jerome Simpson. David Fucillo of NinersNation.com reported on the Simpson signing and his troubled past. 

Simpson last played in the NFL in 2013, with the Minnesota Vikings. He caught 48 passes for 726 yards and one touchdown. He will be in the mix for the third receiver job.

Simpson is talented and has shown that he can produce on the field. The key question is whether he can stay out of trouble and avoid the drug and alcohol problems that have plagued him in the past.

Less than three months after team owner Jed York's now famous "win with class" comment, Baalke signed Simpson. York provided no endorsement of this signing as reported by John Breech of CBSSports.com.

With the 49ers reeling from recent off-field issues surrounding Aldon Smith, Ray McDonald, Ahmad Brooks Bruce Miller and the recently departed Chris Culliver, one must wonder why Baalke chose to stick his neck out to sign Simpson, who is not a star player.

DeAndre Smelter

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DeAndre Smelter played two seasons at Georgia Tech.

With the 49ers needing help at the wide receiver position now, it was quite curious why general manager Trent Baalke drafted DeAndre Smelter in the fourth round, with the 132nd overall pick.

Smelter does have good size at 6'3" and 225 pounds. He also played at Georgia Tech, which features a run-oriented offense, so we did not get a chance to really see Smelter showcase his talents.

In 2014, prior to his injury, Smelter had 35 receptions for 715 yards and seven touchdowns. His 20.4 yards-per-catch average was quite impressive.

There is upside here, but expectations will need to be tempered, as Smelter tore his ACL late in the 2014 season. There is a considerable likelihood that Smelter will sit out the 2015 season and try to strengthen his knee.

Baalke has an affinity for drafting injured players and allowing them to sit out a year, as they rehab.

This strategy has not yet proven to be worthwhile, as the 49ers are waiting to see if players such as Tank Carradine, Brandon Thomas, Kaleb Ramsey, Keith Reaser and Trey Millard ever pan out. One such player, Marcus Lattimore, has retired before ever playing a game.

In a year when the 49ers needed to rebuild their roster with players who can at least play, selecting Smelter as their only wide receiver in this draft class was a highly questionable move.

Rob Rang provided a very mixed review of Smelter on CBSSports.com.

All NFL stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.